Metropolis Kitchen

Welcome to Metropolis Kitchen an "open format" cooking blog! This is a no nonsense blog for the city dweller who works like hell, strives to be healthy and fit, is on a budget, and LOVES FOOD! Sound like you? If you want to start cooking more or want to learn but don't know where to start, this is your blog. Chef Pri is here to encourage you with tips, ideas, and quick fire lessons! Ready, set, sizzle!

Tip of the day

When grocery shopping: Always spend most of your time and money in the produce aisle! Herbs, fruits, and veggies give your body live energy and vitamins without extra carbs, calories, and preservatives! Not to mention they taste so much better!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

So sorry my recipes have not been posting as often as I would like. I do have a crazy schedule with night classes, a day job, and castings, so please forgive me.... Tonight I am in a rush since I have an 8:30 p.m. rehearsal so this meal needs to be quick and delicious. I decided to make this Cajun Style Shrimp dish that is supposed to take only 20 min. I found this great recipe on foodnetwork.com and after a little bit of tweaking of the recipe (shh!..I added shallots), I will cook and post pictures later! The videos take a lot of time to edit and post, so they will not come as often anymore. Needless to say, I will still post recipes with pics every week; and videos at least once a month! Please let me know your thoughts or opinions on the recipes or videos, or the site in general. Hugs and kisses to you all!

Cajun Style Shrimp and Rice

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

4 plum tomatoes, chopped

2 bunches scallions, chopped

3 cups cooked white rice

2 tablespoons chopped shallots

Lemon wedges and chopped parsley, for serving on top

Directions

Heat the butter, olive oil and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the Cajun seasoning and shrimp and cook, stirring, until the shrimp begin to curl, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the tomatoes and scallions to the skillet and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add the rice and 1/4 cup water and continue to cook until the rice is warmed through and the shrimp are opaque, about 3 more minutes. Stir in the parsley and serve with lemon, if desired.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I just had a moment of enlightenment today. I realized I am an artist, and that cooking is my stress reliever. Just like an artist paints and draws, or a musician strokes the guitar, I create edible art that appeases almost all the senses! My efforts to create a masterpiece that smells amazing, looks artful, and tastes awesome satisfies the creative aspect of my brain. Not to mention, jamming to old jazz and blues while sipping on a glass of wine, are a perfect marriage. I immediately sail away on vacation to some country like Italy or France...sometimes I feel like I am in a movie. Sounds crazy, but it's amazing when you find something you love to do so much, it just becomes your outlet. In this chaotic world that makes it more difficult for anyone to find their place, I have found mine--the kitchen! The best part of it all is that I get to share this love with everyone!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Hello friends! Guess what I made for dinner? I am still brainstorming about the pork chops because those little guys are the biggest challenge for me. It is so hard to lean pork and keep it tender! I also had this strange orange cauliflower sitting in my fridge since last week! I had to use it today before it goes bad! Not sure about how it will come out until I actually DO cook, since I am always experimenting on the fly! Check this recipe I tried and watch me make it on my video! It was definitely a rush job, but it came out FABULOUS! I am not even kidding! My bf and I were completely stuffed on a meal with virtually no carbs! There was a small blunder in making the Cuban Cauliflower Mash, but it still came out delish. I will remember to leave out the milk next time.Pork Chop in Blue Cheese Gravy w/ Spicy Cuban Cauliflower Mash RecipeIngredientsmojo marinadeadobo seasoning2 tablespoons butter4 thick cut pork chops1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper1 teaspoon fresh chopped garlic1/2 cup sliced onions1/2 cup sliced peppers1 teaspoon fresh chopped scallion1 & 1/2 teaspoon of blue cheese dressingDirections1- Season and marinate chops prior to cooking and refrigerate if possible.2-First saute onions and peppers with olive oil, then remove and save for later.3-Then in the same pan melt butter, scallion, and garlic over medium heat. Then fry chops in butter until no longer pink and the juices run clear (about 20 min.). Turn only occasionally to evenly brown.3-Once chops are thoroughly cooked, add cooked onions and peppers back in. Stir in blue cheese and mix around with the natural juices of the chops and onions. Cook on low heat for about 5 min.Spicy Cuban Cauliflower MashIngredients1 large head of cauliflower (yellow preferably)1/2 cup grated mozzarella2 tablespoons sour cream1 teaspoon lime juice1 teaspoon butterfresh chopped garlic1 teaspoon adoboblack pepperfresh parsleyDirections1-Boil cauliflower for 15-20 min. or until very soft.2-Strain the cauliflower then transfer them into a blender along with all the other ingredients.3-Garnish with fresh parsley

Sunday, July 25, 2010

So its Sunday, and my good friends are coming over for some fun in the sun. As we start to crack open some beers I realize that appetizers are a must right now! In emergency cases when I virtually have no food in my fridge, I love making bites on toothpicks. I do carry a pack of toothpicks because they always come in handy. So I decided to make these Turkey Kielbasa bites with sauteed red pepper and queso blanco. It was quick and easy and literally took 5 min.Turkey Kielbasa Bites Recipe

turkey kielbasaqueso blanco red peppertoothpicks

Directions:Saute red pepper and kielbasa for 5-10 min. in a nonstick pan. Then cut cheese into tiny bite size cubes. Then with toothpick pinch pepper, then cheese, then sausage on the bottom. SUPER EASY!!!

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About Me

I am a person who loves to enjoy life! Eating, dancing, drinking, traveling... you name it I love it! Anyone who really knows me would say that I should've been a professional Chef. I have been baking since I was 8. I started out baking things from scratch and then moved on to italian and spanish food. I also have to admit I was addicted to "Top Chef" for 2 seasons before I lost my tivo and could no longer follow the shows. Now I make just about anything, but most of all, I love cooking for others. I am also a teacher and part time actress, so I figured this blog is a great way to incorporate all my passions into one that leaves everyone full, and warm n fuzzy inside! LoL

Great Restaurant Finds

Great Restaurant Find: So last night the bf and I decided to eat out once this week at a restaurant we have never been to "El Pimiento" in Miami Lakes. We were apprehensive at first since all we could see was a little sign in a shopping center that read "El Pimiento." But the second we stepped foot in this place, it was walking into an old tapas bar in Seville, Spain. It was a romantically dim and tiny intimate place. The place was packed and the wine was flowing! Everyone had bottles of wine at their table! There were wine bottles everywhere, even the light fixture was made of wine bottles! The latin jazz was amazing, and the man playing the harp, was playing as if we were making wild passionate love with it! He had the ladies pretty excited! lol. The food was pretty good too! The tapas plates are of generous portions and full of flavor. We really enjoyed the olives soaked in garlic & olive oil that were on the house. Only negative was that many of their plates are fried and a bit too oily, but delicious to say the least! Needless to say, we left stuffed and giddy after drinking an entire bottle between the 2 of us! I give it a thumbs up! This is a great romantic place!